Birth Of A Goddess

by Mark T. Bacome

  “Chichi!” Anaua chided. “Wait your turn.”

  “Li is gone! I can't feel her anymore! Where is she? Where did she go?” Chichi said, ignoring his mother.

  “I am so sorry, Novia. He has been acting like this since yesterday afternoon. He insisted we come to you today to find out what happened,” Anaua apologized.

  “Even Anali has been upset,” Ayden added.

  “Why are you saying such things?” Novia asked, even though she was feeling much the same.

  “I can always feel Li around--but not now. She's gone. Where is she?” Chichi burst into tears again.

  Damus could see the concern in Novia's eyes, even though she was trying to hide her feelings. “Is Li missing?” He stepped up to help console Chichi.

  “She did not come home last night,” Novia admitted.

  “She is a grown woman, is that not common?” Damus asked.

  Novia slapped Damus on the shoulder. “No--she lets me know if she will not be home,” Novia scolded.

  “That's not what I meant,” Damus defended. “I just meant--”

  “Where IS she?” Chichi interrupted.

  Novia turned to Presley1490. “You have news of this?”

  All four Elvonians shook their heads. “No. Not of this,” Presley1490 answered with surprise. “We have been contacted by our Elvonian brethren--they are coming. Arriving very soon”

  “Li is gone!” Chichi sobbed.

  “They are coming here? Is that safe?” Novia wrapped an arm around the boy.

  “There has been some arrangement, regrettably we are without more details. They are bringing Utahia's remains for a proper ceremony,” Presley1490 explained.

  “Utahia?” Novia felt stunned.

  “We must find Li and let her know. She would want to be here for that too,” Damus suggested.

  “We must find Li!” Chichi repeated.

  “Hold on! Wait a moment!” Novia took command of the conversation. “Your news has nothing to do with Li missing, but is about Elvonians and Utahia coming back?”

  Presley1490 nodded.

  “Ayden and Anaua, you are here because Chichi and Anali are upset about Li?”

  Ayden nodded, while Anaua coddled Anali.

  “Yes. We need to find Li,” Chichi insisted.

  “And you?” Novia asked Damus.

  “Me? I just wanted to make you breakfast.”

  “All very different reasons for everyone being here so early this morning,” Novia concluded with a sigh. Everyone nodded in agreement, as everything quieted down once more.

  “I will lead us to Li's meditation chamber and we'll start our search for her there,” Novia suggested. She looked over at Presley1490 again. “You had a question?”

  “Yes. Presley1833 has been feeling ill in the morning over the last week. Biofluid samples indicate significant chemical changes that we are unfamiliar with, and she has been experiencing pain in her chest bumps. We have no Corporate documentation for these conditions in this sequence and need your medical advice,” Presley1490 explained.

  The news that her grandmother's remains would be returning to the clan was stunning enough, but Novia fell speechless for a few moments over this bit of news. The silence hung in the air to a point of uneasiness.

  “I think we should all wait over...there,” Damus suggested to Ayden, Anaua and the children, pointing to a spot well down the path. “I believe they will need a moment of privacy.”

  Novia gathered the Presley's together. “What...have you...been...doing?” Novia asked while trying to keep her voice down.

  “As you know, we have been inquiring into the processes involved with organic replication of the Earth humans,” Presley1490 stated.

  “Yes, the general processes--” Novia answered through tight lips.

  “Well--I, that is to say, all of us, have felt that your tutelage on the process has been--lacking certain details, and--”

  “And?”

  “We were able to solicit more physical details from some of the young Guardians--”

  “They DIDN'T touch--”

  “Oh, no, no, no, they did not participate in any of the physical processes, as that would not be scientific and contrary to our documentary discipline. They were simply able to explain the physical actions far more clearly for the experiments,” Presley1567 chimed in.

  “Experiments?”

  “Well, of course, in order to conduct a full evaluation of the information provided, experimentation would be necessary to fully understand and document the process for analysis,” Presley1490 explained. “It is purely scientific.”

  “Of course--scientific. So--who all--experimented?” Novia was afraid to ask.

  “All of us,” Presley1490 answered with pride.

  Novia looked over at Presley1625 to see if she too was exhibiting any symptoms. “You too?”

  “I was the 'control,'” Presley1625 explained. “I did not participate in any of the physical activities pursuant to the process, but I did document everything for further scientific analysis.”

  “Ah-huh,” Novia grunted, and rubbed her throbbing temple. “So--you two, 'experimented' on Presley1833?” Novia glared at Presley1490 and Presley1567.

  “Yes. Actually we tried all possible combinations between the three of us, and fully documented the exchanges. I might add that the physical activities pursuant to the process are quite enjoyable and--”

  Novia held up her hand to interrupt Presley1490, with no desire to hear any further explanations. She pointed to the two female Elvonians. “You two ladies go inside, make yourself comfortable and wait. When I get back, we'll have a more--detailed--chat about all of this.” Novia gave Presley1490 and Presley1567 a harsh look. “YOU TWO! Come with us to search for Li. I will try to explain the--'process'--a little better.”

  “Then I am to understand, our experiment was-unsuccessful?” Presley1490 asked.

  “No, on the contrary, your experiment was very successful. I just have a feeling you may not be ready for the impending results!”

  *** Grafter could not shake the feeling he knew this place, once again, like a distant memory, but was unable to pull the pieces fully together. He followed the walkway, below the large windows, to a structure jetting out from the wall into the large space. 'Flight Control' came to mind. Inside there were a lot of strange yet familiar panels. Like reliving a dream, Grafter attempted to understand. “What is this place?” Junk asked.

  “I think I know but I'm not exactly sure yet.” “Do you require assistance?” A voice spoke out from

  all directions, sounding female; rather pleasant. “Who are you?” Grafter asked.

  “I am Flight Control AI, Jenai Lunar Detention Station,

  Twenty-three. I am not able to connect with your internal personal AI, are you malfunctioning? Do you require assistance?” Jenai asked, projecting a genuine tone of concern.

  “Who are you talking to?” Junk whispered to Grafter. “You're making those funny noises again.”

  “I believe I am talking with another entity, like Cain-an AI, artificial intelligence,” Grafter whispered back.

  “Yes. I am an AI. Flight Control AI, Jenai Lunar Detention Station, Twenty-three. May I be of assistance? You appear to be malfunctioning, operating without an internal personal AI.”

  “Is it answering you?”

  “Yes.”

  “So it can hear us?” Junk spoke even softer.

  “I believe so,” Grafter answered Junk, then repeated in the strange sounds.

  “Yes, I am quite capable of detecting your vocal communications; however, I am unable to communicate with your internal personal AI. Do you require

  assistance?”

  “I'm not sure if you can help,” Grafter stated. “I don't have an internal AI, but I do have some questions.”

  “No internal AI?”

  “Afraid not,” Grafter answered.

  “Are you Elvonian?”

  “Not really sure what that means,” Grafter
said shrugging his shoulders, although some odd visual memories did come to mind.

  “You speak a dialect of Elvonian, yet, you do not know what that means?”

  “I'm really not very certain at this time.”

  “Your question?”

  “You keep saying 'Lunar Detention Station, Twentythree.' How many stations are there?”

  “One hundred-six operational detention stations.”

  “The word 'Lunar'--please explain.”

  “Lunar: of, determined by, relating to, or resembling the moon,” Jenai defined.

  “Moon? What moon?”

  “Earth moon.”

  “Where, exactly, are all one hundred and six Lunar Detention Stations located?”

  “Earth moon, far side, northern quadrant, sectors 5D through 10A.”

  Grafter felt his knees buckle and decided sitting on the deck was a safer place to be. Junk followed him down with a curious look on his face. “I didn't get any of that. What were you talking about?”

  “Where we are at.”

  “Great. Where are we at?”

  “A long way from home!”

  *** Novia led the way to Li's meditation chamber. The crystals in the walls at the entrance were very bright and the glow from inside appeared even more intense. Damas stopped at the outer entry to examine the rock structure. He was unable to find any tool marks, and the degree of polish on the stone was extraordinary.

  Novia was the first to reach the pile of garments in the center of the chamber floor, as Presley1490 and 1567, along with Ayden, Anaua, Anali and Chichi gathered around. Damus followed last after examining the rockwork in amazement.

  “So I guess she is out searching new passages? Her clothes are all here,” Anaua offered, trying to console Chichi with the new evidence. “Isn't that how she does that? Without her clothes?”

  Novia knelt down to give the pile of clothes a closer examination. “Yes, but--” “So all is well,” Ayden added, with some sense of relief.

  Novia shook her head, still gathering up the clothing. “She wouldn't have left her clothes like this.”

  “What do you mean?” Anaua asked.

  Novia folded Li's garments. “She is very meticulous with her garments. Everything would be folded precisely, and set over on that rock shelf--all in separate small piles, her leggings and boots below.”

  “So, what you are saying?” Ayden asked.

  “Something is wrong,” Chichi interrupted. “I still can't feel her!”

  “Chichi! Mind your manners,” Anaua scolded.

  Novia nodded her agreement with Chichi as she searched the chamber for any other clues, but there was nothing to be found. All that had been left behind were her clothes.

  Damus continued his close examination of the chamber walls and interior decorative structures. “I can't find any tool marks. She made this chamber by herself?”

  “Yes. She is very good at stonework,” Novia answered, distracted by her own thoughts of where Li might be, and why she would have left her belongings in such disarray.

  “What tools?” Damus insisted.

  “She uses her hands,” Chichi explained.

  “I understand, this is hand-worked, but what tools? I've never seen this kind of stone wall and flooring polished to this degree! There are no tool marks, no seams.”

  “Just her hands,” Chichi insisted.

  “I'm sorry, that's not possible--the polish on the stone surfaces, the fine edges on this detailed pillar structure-this is highly refined. Impossible to be done solely by hand, with no tools,” Damus argued, giving Novia a look of complete skepticism.

  Chichi walked over and handed Damus a small sculpture of an animal he recognized as a Night-howler. The fine detail was, again, unbelievable. Other than being made from stone, the small palm-sized sculpture looked completely lifelike, from the glassy eyes to the fine texture of the fur. “She made this in her hand,” Chichi explained.

  Damus shook his head in disbelief, staring at Novia for support.

  She nodded and shrugged her shoulders. “She does that kind of thing.”

  “She picked up a rock, held it in her hand and it became this,” Chichi insisted. “She made that just for me.”

  Damus felt a conscious need to close his mouth as he examined the sculpture. “And now she's gone

  somewhere--and you believe something may be wrong?”

  Novia answered with a simple nod, but the concern on her face said so much more.

  “I'll round up the guardians. We'll start a thorough search of the passages immediately!” Damus stated without further hesitation.

  Chichi stepped over to the chamber wall and reached out a hand to touch the glowing stonework, shaking his head and whispering his concern. “They won't find her. She's not there. She's gone.”

  *** Grafter tried to sort all the new information, not only from Jenai, but from the random memories that appeared to be related to their current situation.

  “If I understand you correctly, Jenai...we are located in a detention center, NOT on Earth?”

  “That would be correct.”

  Grafter took in a deep breath. His memories from Cain were somewhat conflicting about how far this 'moon' was from Earth. “How far away are we now?”

  “Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand, nine hundred and forty-six point eight-five-six kilometers from the far side, northern quadrant, sector 5D,” Jenai calculated.

  “Please bare with me, Jenai. How long is a key-lo--” Grafter attempted the unknown measurement.

  “One thousand meters is equal to one kilometer.”

  “And a meter is?”

  “One hundred centimeters.”

  “I'm just not getting this, Jenai. I need a visual reference.” Grafter scratched his neck and shook his head.

  “The maintenance monitor station console directly in front of you is ninety-three centimeters wide,” Jenai offered.

  Grafter stood up and measured the console with his out-stretched hands, then took that measurement to the floor. Junk watched with growing curiosity. “So--a 'meter' is about a pace long--”

  “I am not familiar with that descriptive of

  measurement,” Jenai admitted.

  “That's okay. I now have some idea that I can correlate,” Grafter explained, although his continued conversation in the Corporate dialect were beginning to take a toll on his mouth and throat. All the rapid 'pops' and 'clicking' noises along with some of the tones were becoming a strain.

  “What are you talking about now?” Junk interrupted.

  Grafter held his hand up to continue with Jenai. “You mentioned that I was speaking some other dialect-El...something?” Grafter asked.

  “Elvonian,” Jenai answered. “Yes. I find your lack of knowledge regarding Elvonians interesting, as you, and the others with you, have been speaking a similar dialect of Elvonian.”

  “So, you understand that dialect, when I speak that way?” Grafter pressed.

  “Yes. I am adjusting your differences in the known Elvonian dialect on file, with your current version.”

  “Jenai, I need to change to that dialect, as the one we have been using is hurting my mouth and throat,” Grafter asked.

  “I believe--the adjustment--I can make,” Jenai spoke in the new dialect, with some odd hesitations.

  “Hey, I understood that--I think,” Junk said with surprise.

  “Yes, understand--I can you,” Jenai said, analyzing her syntax of the dialect further. “Yes, I can understand you,” she corrected.

  “So you can see us and hear us?” Junk asked, directing his question around the room, not sure where to talk.

  “I can hear you, but I am having trouble with visual sensors due to the lack of AI transmitted motion telemetry. I am finding your movements to be quite unexpected, random and somewhat confusing,” Jenai noted.

  “Jenai, I have some very important questions I need to ask you now,” Grafter took back the conversation. “Where are the 'keepers'?”r />
  “I am sorry, I have no reference to your term, 'keepers,'” Jenai replied.

  “The little ones...Cor...por...ate,” Grafter attempted the word pulled from a distant memory.

  “All Corporate Security personnel have been recalled,” Jenai answered.

  “All from this detention center?” Grafter asked.

  “All detention centers. To be more accurate, all of Earth moon.”

  “What 'all' does that mean?” Junk whispered to Grafter.

  “All Corporate Security personnel have been recalled from all one hundred and six detention centers, along with six technical support facilities, two power facilities and three supply depots, including maintenance crew from this ships maintenance facility, here at Lunar Detention Station, Twenty-three,” Jenai explained.

  “How many people are detained at all of the centers?” Grafter asked.

  “Searching records. As of the last roster count, there are three-hundred and sixty-three thousand, four hundred and twenty-five non-terminated, detained, Earth humans dispersed among the one hundred and six detention centers.”

  “All of the detention centers are built the same as this one?” Junk wondered aloud.

  “All one hundred and six detention centers are built with similar characteristics, including twenty-five holding areas, with a capacity of one hundred-fifty to one hundred-sixty Earth humans each.”

  “Are the detention centers continuing to operate? Water, food, lighting, heat?” Grafter asked with concern.

  “All Corporate protocols have been flushed, however; there have been no replacement protocols or

  differentiating orders to change operational procedures. All systems are operating, albeit under limited conditions, as there are no longer any assigned personnel to manually disperse nutritional tubes.”

  “We've got to find a way to get those people help. How are we going to do that?” Junk gave Grafter a look of concern.

  “We'll start here first,” Grafter stated. “Zed, Drom--go back and start getting everyone out of the holding areas. Let them know the keepers are gone. We need to find a way to explain to everyone how those food tubes are meant to work. We need a way to reduce the potency so people don't get sick.”

  “I speak many,” Zed answered. Grafter was certain he understood that to mean Zed knew many dialects, which would come in handy. Zed took Drom by the arm and led the way back to the holding areas.